Tag: Provo Music Scene

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How Utah Revived a Beloved Children’s Series

Image courtesy of Apple TV+
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In 2007, Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. launched Yo Gabba Gabba!, a vibrant children’s show led by DJ Lance Rock and featuring quirky characters like Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Todee, and Plex. Known for blending education with great music, the series featured artists such as Questlove, Bootsy Collins, and Weezer.

The show has now been revived as Yo Gabba GabbaLand! on Apple TV+. Developed by the original creators Christian Jacobs (of The Aquabats!) and Scott Schultz, the revival includes 10 new episodes with updated musical guests, higher production values, and a new host, Kammy Kam (Kamryn Smith). The production was filmed at Utah Film Studios in Park City and also involved audio work done in downtown Provo, Utah at June Audio.

Chance Clift from June Audio worked on voiceovers and music for Yo Gabba Gabbaland! He told Provo Music Magazine that the experience of recording Anderson .Paak’s song for the show was a highlight. He worked in tandem with Provo’s Mason Winter, who edited the dialogue and prepared it for delivery.

The show remains engaging and educational for adults and preschoolers alike, with positive reviews from major outlets like The Hollywood Reporter and The Los Angeles Times. The Provo music industry is thriving, evidenced by June Audio’s work on Post Malone’s AUSTIN, NPR’s award-winning mini-series on the Provo music scene, and Grammy nominations for local composers on the Hogwarts Legacy soundtrack.

Yo Gabba Gabbaland! is now streaming on Apple TV+.

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Provo City News

Provo Halloween Festival Celebrates Its 5th Anniversary

Photo courtesy of Buzzards & Bees.
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By Mike Romero

It’s been 5 years since Alex Vaughn, Corey Fox, Paul Nahrwold, and Dean Cheesman unleashed Buzzards & Bees on the world. A spooky music festival Provo had never seen before, their vision featured costumed indie musicians and costumed concertgoers filling venues all across downtown Provo.

Utah’s only Halloween-themed music festival, it consists of two events: Goth Prom and the Buzzards & Bees Music Festival itself. Goth Prom is a kickoff event for the weekend and is held every year at Velour Live Music Gallery on University Avenue. Participants dress as their saddest selves and have the time of their lives. The actual music festival is Saturday and features 80+ Utah bands.

Goth Prom featuring DJ KID MACHINE will take place tonight, October 20. Buzzards & Bees will take place across 11 venues in downtown Provo on October 21, 2023.  Tickets for both events are on sale now.

Additional festivities include street performers, a costume contest, a mask-making station, spooky story-telling, and more. One ticket gets you in to all 11 venues. It’s one of the busiest single nights of the year for Provo music. Check out the schedule below.

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Provo City News

Provo’s Music Community Unites To Save Teen

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By Mike Romero

Clayton Smalley, a Spanish Fork country artist and welder, has dedicated his career to infusing his songs with a genuine working-class spirit. Influenced by legendary musicians like George Strait, Keith Whitley, and Reba McEntire, Smalley’s love for traditional country music shines through, shaping his unique style.

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One of Smalley’s remarkable abilities is his knack for transforming songs like Niall Horan’s “Slow Hands” into heartwarming exchanges between a husband and wife, reminiscent of lazy summer days on a cozy porch. His cover of the track garnered an impressive 100,000 streams on Spotify, while his original music has amassed hundreds of thousands more.

As a devoted husband and father, Smalley strives to balance his artistic aspirations with his professional career, all while being signed to Nashville country label YN Records. However, his world was turned upside down when he received the devastating news of his son Austin’s diagnosis—heart failure.

Utah country musician Clayton Smalley.

Austin, an 18-year-old high school student and passionate baseball player, was actively pursued by college recruiters until his diagnosis forced him to miss his senior season. After undergoing numerous tests and specialist appointments, it was determined that Austin was not eligible for a left ventricular assist device and would require a heart transplant.

Thankfully, the transplant surgery, which took place this week, was successful. Nevertheless, the road to recovery remains long and arduous for the Smalley family. According to the January 2020 Milliman Research Report, the average cost of a heart transplant in the United States, prior to insurance coverage, amounted to a staggering $1,664,800. This includes pre- and post-transplant medical care, hospital charges, organ procurement fees, and medications.

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Recognizing the financial strain the family faces, a GoFundMe campaign has already raised over $16,000 and is still open to contributions. Additionally, The Angelus Theatre, along with a group of talented Utah country artists including John Griffin, Cody Robbins, Whitney Lusk, Pat Swenson, Maddie Wilson, and Hayden Cluff, will be hosting a benefit concert on Saturday, July 8th, at 7:30 PM. This event promises an unforgettable showcase of talent. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 or at the door for $25.

All proceeds from the concert will go towards supporting the Smalley family, assisting with mounting medical expenses, lost wages, meals, and the day-to-day costs associated with the heart transplant surgery and recovery.

For the latest updates, be sure to follow Clayton Smalley on Instagram. Meanwhile, take a moment to enjoy his captivating track “These Boots Were Made to Dance” below.

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